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  • New Mac Pro: up to 40-core CPU and 128-core GPU, coming in 2022

    New Mac Pro: up to 40-core CPU and 128-core GPU, coming in 2022

    The rumor: Apple’s next Mac Pro with Apple Silicon inside will be wildly powerful, according to Mark Gurman (88.7% accurate, via Bloomberg).

    • “Buyers of the high-end Mac Pro desktop planned for next year will likely have a choice of two processors that are either twice or four times as powerful as the new high-end MacBook Pro chip” Gurman says
    • 20 or 40-core CPU configurations will be available, with 64 or 128-core GPU options
    • The next Mac Pro will feature a significantly smaller design and is expected to release sometime next year

    Our take: This is the fullest vision of Apple Silicon yet: Apple was never planning to just replace Intel, they were planning to succeed it. With CPU and GPU power this nuts, I’ll be buying this Mac Pro the day it comes out in 2022.

  • Next Mac mini: major CPU & GPU upgrades, more RAM & more

    Next Mac mini: major CPU & GPU upgrades, more RAM & more

    The rumor: Apple is planning an upgraded version of the higher-end Mac mini with Apple Silicon inside, according to Mark Gurman (88.7% accurate, via Bloomberg).

    • Powering the next Mac mini will be a new M-series chip with 10 CPU cores and 16 or 32 GPU cores; RAM will also be configurable up to 64GB
    • An improved Neural Engine will also be included alongside 4 I/O ports (versus the 2 currently found on the M1 Mac mini)
    • No release date for the next Mac mini has been rumored just yet

    Our take: Noted in his report, Gurman says “Apple could delay or cancel the new mini’s launch — as it has in the past — but eventually the company will likely replace the Intel-equipped version it now sells.” I don’t see why Apple wouldn’t upgrade the higher-end Mac mini models, but strange that this was mentioned only alongside this device.

  • 2021 MacBook Pro: 10-core CPU, 16/32-core GPU, coming as soon as this Summer

    2021 MacBook Pro: 10-core CPU, 16/32-core GPU, coming as soon as this Summer

    The rumor: New details about the next 14 and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with Apple Silicon inside have emerged, courtesy of Mark Gurman (88.7% accurate, via Bloomberg).

    • The next M-series chips will include a 10-core processor, with 16 or 32-core GPU options; RAM will also be configurable up to 64GB
    • An improved Neural Engine will also be included, alongside the return of MagSafe, the SD card slot and an HDMI port
    • The new MacBook Pro models may launch as soon as this Summer

    Our take: Looks like the first computers to get ‘M1X’ will be the new MacBook Pros. And with Gurman’s unbeatable track record, it seems like these are just around the corner…

  • Beats Studio Buds first look revealed in new images and videos

    Beats Studio Buds first look revealed in new images and videos

    The leak: A new pair of never-before-seen earbuds from Beats have leaked in iOS 14.6, as discovered first by MacRumors and 9to5Mac.

    • The new truly wireless earbuds are stemless and come in white, black and red
    • Noise cancellation is supported, as noted by 9to5Mac
    • No release date for Beats Studio Buds has been rumored or leaked yet
    • Steve Moser has shared a number of high-res videos of the upcoming earbuds (see below)

    Our take: These look like what AirPods Pro 2 have been described as…perhaps this is why the recent AirPods rumors have been so confusing?

  • New 14/16-inch MacBook Pro models potentially delayed until 2022

    New 14/16-inch MacBook Pro models potentially delayed until 2022

    The rumor: The highly-anticipated MacBook Pro models with Apple Silicon inside aren’t coming this year, according to DigiTimes (63.5% accurate).

    • Apple’s next MacBooks with Mini-LED displays may have been delayed until 2022
    • No further detail is currently available from the DigiTimes paywalled-preview

    Our take: For anyone waiting to buy a new 14 or 16-inch MacBook Pro, this isn’t great news. That being said, DigiTimes is the only outlet currently reporting the delay and is less than 65% accurate, so there is s still a chance we see the Mini-LED MacBooks this year.

  • iOS 14.6 Release Candidate version out now for developers

    iOS 14.6 Release Candidate version out now for developers

    The news: Apple has released the final version of iOS 14.6 to developers ahead of a launch happening sometime soon.

    • Apple Card Family and podcasts subscriptions are included in the update
    • iOS 14.6 is also required for the new Apple Music features launching in June

    Full changelog

    Apple Card Family

    • Apple Card can be shared with up to five people, including anyone 13 years or older in your Family Sharing group
    • Apple Card Family adds support for families to track expenses, manage spending with optional limits and controls, and build credit together

    Podcasts

    • Subscription support for channels and individual shows

    AirTag and Find My

    • Lost mode option to add an email address instead of a phone number for AirTag and Find My network accessories
    • AirTag will show the partially masked phone number of the owner when tapped with an NFC-capable device

    Accessibility

    • Voice Control users can unlock their iPhone for the first time after a restart using only their voice

    This release also fixes the following issues:

    • Unlock with Apple Watch may not work after using Lock iPhone on Apple Watch
    • Reminders may appear as blank lines
    • Call blocking extensions may not appear in Settings
    • Bluetooth devices could sometimes disconnect or send audio to a different device during an active call
    • iPhone may experience reduced performance during startup

  • Apple releases 2 new Apple Watch Pride Edition bands

    Apple releases 2 new Apple Watch Pride Edition bands

    The news: Alongside big announcements for Apple Music, 2 new Apple Watch Pride Edition bands have also been released.

    • “The Pride Edition Braided Solo Loop ($99) artfully weaves together the original rainbow colors with those drawn from various Pride flags to represent the breadth of diversity among LGBTQ+ experiences and the history of a movement that has spanned generations” Apple says
    • A new version of the Nike Sport Loop band ($49) has also been released and features all 6 colors of the rainbow
    • Both bands are available for order now, and will release in Apple Stores on May 25

    Our take: I love Apple’s yearly Pride releases and the new Solo Loop this year looks exceptional. $99 is a bit pricey though…

  • Apple Music with free Spatial and Lossless Audio upgrades announced

    Apple Music with free Spatial and Lossless Audio upgrades announced

    The news: A new version of Apple Music featuring Spatial Audio and Lossless Audio has been announced and is coming next month.

    • Spatial Audio features support for Dolby Atmos, allowing sound to come from all directions…even from above you
      • This will be available on select songs at launch, with more added regularly
    • Lossless Audio includes significantly more audio data and will be available for the entire catalog of 75 million songs at launch
    • The new version of Apple Music is launching sometime in June and requires iOS 14.6

    Our take: Apple wasn’t joking when they said they would be changing music forever. Everything announced today doesn’t cost a cent more than the $9.99/month that everyone already pays. This is a huge blow to others like Spotify and Tidal that charge a premium for lossless music.

  • Apple says major Music announcement is ‘coming soon’

    Apple says major Music announcement is ‘coming soon’

    The news: Apple has announced a major change for Apple Music that is said to be happening soon.

    • As noted in the Music app, Apple says “Get ready—music is about to change forever.”
    • No release date for the announcement has been set, but rumors point to something happening imminently…perhaps as a soon as May 18

    Our take: If this isn’t for the HiFi tier of Apple Music, than I have no idea what this is. Apple rarely pre-announces anything…and to do so on a Sunday? That’s even stranger.

  • Space Gray Mac accessories discontinued, available ‘while supplies last’

    Space Gray Mac accessories discontinued, available ‘while supplies last’

    The news: Months after discontinuing the iMac Pro, Apple is not closing out their inventory for their Space Gray Magic accessories, as spotted first by MacRumors.

    • Apple’s Space Gray Magic Mouse, Track and Keyboard are available in limited quantities “while supplies last,” as noted by Apple on the bottom of each product page
    • Fresh color-matched accessories were recently unveiled alongside the M1 iMac

    Our take: With the iMac Pro no longer being sold and updated Magic accessories announced, these didn’t really make much sense anymore. I’m sure we’ll see new color-matched accessories to replace these when we get the new iMac Pro later this year…

  • Rumor suggests new AirPods coming next week

    Rumor suggests new AirPods coming next week

    The rumor: Apple could have another Spring surprise up their sleeve, and it could be happening next Tuesday, according to YouTuber Luke Miani (not yet tracked).

    • Miani, who we reached out to, said that new AirPods could be announced on May 18 via a press release that could also include a ‘Apple Music HiFi’ debut
    • AppleTrack has heard privately that Apple is planning to release new AirPods in the coming weeks

    Our take: From the countless images we’ve seen to the fact that AirPods 2 and AirPods Pro were both announced as part of a press release, this doesn’t feel like too far of a stretch. Miani, however, does not have a track record…so it’s important to take this with a grain of salt.